Zero Trust Security: What is it?

Here's how the Zero Trust security model can protect your organization

Trust is often seen as the groundwork that must be laid for businesses to be successful; yet in the cybersecurity space, too much trust can be problematic. Enter Zero Trust Security. It's an approach to protecting your business that might just thwart an attack on your network, regardless of where exactly it comes from. So what is Zero Trust Security? And how can zero trust shield your organization from a breach, hack, or other cybersecurity incidents?

What is Zero Trust Security?

The Zero Trust model of security is a strategy that recognizes threats to your network and business exist both within and outside of your organization. From that standpoint, the security model commands verification from multiple sources before granting access to your organization's data or network. It means the system requires proof that a device or user is legitimate and trusted whether they are inside or outside of a network. Gone is implicit trust. In its place is a safer and dependable approach to cybersecurity.

Zero Trust Security involves taking a hard look at the organization's data, assets, applications, and services. From there, the organization develops access policies that control user access to the applications and data essential to conducting their workplace duties. Monitoring traffic and activity is vital, as it allows your organization to pinpoint and react quickly to any suspicious activity.

Why should organizations consider employing a Zero Trust philosophy?

There are multiple reasons why companies and organizations might wish to consider a Zero Trust model of security.

• In a remote working world, Zero Trust Security offers an extra level of protection. The remote working world continues to be a critical mitigation effort as the pandemic drags on, and having the appropriate cybersecurity tools and tactics in place is key. While organizations used to have their network contained inside their own data centers with users on-location, that is no longer the case. In today's remote working world, with cloud-based computing and access from anywhere in the world, keeping tabs on access is essential to ensure users are authorized.
• Updates to software may seem innocuous, but vendor and app updates can also pose a threat to your network environment. Remember the mass attack on Microsoft Exchange servers last March? Companies with a Zero Trust Security model would have had an extra layer of protection against this update and the resulting vulnerabilities and compromise of their network. More, updates would have been verified and tested, with vulnerabilities detected faster.
• Trust can cost you. Exercising caution can save your business a lot, in terms of potential damage to your reputation and the bottom line. Cybercrime leeches trillions of dollars from companies every year. Putting barriers to entry in place to protect your company from cyberattackers is a vital component of your network security strategy, and Zero Trust can enhance that effort.

Is your business ready for Zero Trust Security?

There's no time like the present to up your cybersecurity efforts. The experts at Locknet® Managed IT are here to help put your Zero Trust Security model into place, to ensure your organization has the best defense against attack from both inside and outside your network. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you adopt the Zero Trust model in your organization.